USC to face Georgia Tech in Sun Bowl

El Paso is approximately 1,600 miles from Miami.
To USC it might as well be the distance from here to the
moon.

It’s not exactly where the Trojans thought
they’d be spending the conclusion of their season.

USC has accepted a bid to the 79th Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso to take on Georgia Tech
on Dec. 31, the school announced.

After being ranked No. 1 in the preseason, the
Trojans had dreams of ending their season on South Beach in the BCS national
title game. At the very least, they would hope for a spot in Pasadena at the
Rose Bowl.

However, after a 7-5 season neither of those
destinations were a possibility.

So, the Trojans first bowl game in the aftermath
of a two-year bowl ban will be in El Paso on New Year’s Eve.

“It’s very exciting, especially for two years of
sitting at home and not being able to go to a bowl game, we’re excited,” said
USC head coach Lane Kiffin.

USC will be returning to the Sun Bowl for the
first time since 1998 when they lost to TCU. This is their third appearance in
the bowl overall. They’re 0-2.

Georgia Tech, the runner up in the ACC, is
returning to the Sun Bowl for the second consecutive season. Last year, they
suffered an overtime loss to Utah.

The Yellow Jackets, similar to UCLA last season,
needed a waiver from the NCAA to qualify for a bowl game due to their 6-7 record
and falling under .500 in their conference championship game. They’re coming off
of consecutive losses to Georgia and Florida State in the ACC championship
game.

USC is simply next in line during a streak of
three games Georgia Tech will have played against teams that were ranked in the
top five at one point this season.

“Coach Kiffin is an outstanding coach with some
outstanding players,” said Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson.

Kiffin and company will have to try to slow down
Johnson’s option attack. The Yellow Jackets average over 300 yards rushing per
game and are ranked fourth nationally in rushing. His option attack is unlike
anything the Trojans have faced this season.

“It’s obviously going to be very different,”
Kiffin said. “They’re unbelievable at it. They do a great job and they
understand their adjustments so well.”

Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin will have 29
days to prepare to face the option. The Sun Bowl will the elder Kiffin’s last
with the Trojans. He will resign following the bowl game, the school announced
last week.